Photographic printing machine



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PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 fo/Qn, faint 2MB@ Ymb/w bhw the cylinder.

United States Patent `OV \-PHoToGRAPHIC PRINTING MACHINE John flfaini, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The C. F. Pease Company, f Chicago, .Ill., `a corporation .of ,Delaware Application May-7, 1953, Serial No. 353,629

18 Claims. y(Cl. 9 5-775) Ibis invention relates to improvements in photographic VV printing lmachines of thevrevolving cylinder type, .and

in particular, to a removable cylinder assembly forthe Same cylinder, to the end that the print and tracing can be fed into `themachine at onepoint of thecylinders periphery, anddischar-gel or stripped lfrom the cylinder-at another point of its periphery. VThe timeof exposure may be regu- .lated byregulating the speed ofthe cylinder and belt, or -.byfregulating-theintensitygof thelight source, as'by a shutter.

The light source may comprise an elongate member or assembly, such as -a tubularhigh pressure mercury vapor lamp, or an assembly of a plurality of suitable I ampswhichare spaced valongthe length of the cylinder.

In the embodimentshown, thelight sourcecomprises a Asinglelamp tube of a length approximating the length of However, it will be understood that `the principles of the invention are applicable to machines embodying other types of light source where they are associated with eachother in such a manner thatreplacement orremoval is facilitated, by the use of aremovable cylinder assembly.

It is occasionally necessary to replace the light source,

or otherwise to remove the vsame from the cylinder.

Heretofore,-this has been done by providing an opening ingthe sidewall ofthe housing ofthe machine, and

ywithdrawing the lamp tube through the opening. However, this requires that the machinebe so located that suicient'side clearance is provided; since the lamp'tube is Aof a length which approximates the length of the machine, ,thisfside clearance is quite substantial. In in- :s tallations Awhichembody a battery of printing machines, Vthe provision of the Vnecessary side clearance is often d ificultor expensive.

It isan object of the present invention to provide a photographic printing machinefin whichthe light `source may beremoved from the frontof the machine, thereby I eliminating the side clearance heretofore required.

Another object is to provide an improved printing machine which embodies a removable cylinderassembly. y.S tillanother Objectis-to provide animproved means forirnounting a lamp tube within the cylinder of aY photographic printing machine.

In machinesof this type, it is necessary to provide ,conlingrmleans for the lamp tube, such as an air'blast.

2,733,644 'Patented Ieb. `,195.6

box andimproved communication providing lmeans beltween the fheaderbox and theinterior of thecylinder.

A furtherobject is Atojprovide an arrangement `ofthis `type `in which the header box is detachably connected to the lamp` supporting. assemblyA so ;th at -the formen ,supports thelatter. The connection-maybe detachable-so that the lampsupporting assemblyvmay `be withdrawn yfrom the machine.

. apparent as the description proceeds.

With reference now to the .drawings which forrna `part of this specification, and in whichlike reference numerals designate 'like parts:

Fig, A.1 is alverticalside section view ofa `preferred embodiment of this invention taken along line 1-(1 of Fig..2;

2 ,is a vertical frontsection takenalong line 12-,2

yof Fig. l;

Fig. 3 Aisaside elevatiomasviewed from the leftside of Fig. 2, the outer and inner doors orpanels being `reymoved so as toshow the underlyingparts;

Fig. .4 is a plan section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 .is a perspective view-of thevrernovable cylinder assembly itself;

Fig. 6 is, an enlarged vertical section `showingthshape of the track;

Fig 7 is an enlarged view of thejlarnp hanger; yand Fig. 8 is a-detailed perspective view of-thelatch.

The 4embodiment -shown herein kcomprises various frame or structural members collectively designated by the referencenumeral10,*together with a housing ;11 which encloses the back of the machine, apart of the top, and the sides. Disposed within the housing, as shown in Fig. l, is a glass cylinder 12 withinwhich Iis disposeda suitable lamp l25, suchasa highpressure-mercury 4vapor lamp.

Also disposedwithinthe housing andsuitably mounted in the structural Vmembers 10 are a plurality of rolls or lpulleys 13, including-pulleys 21v and 24. A belt orseries of tapesare disposedaround the various pulleys 13, 21 and 24in suchia manner that thecylinderrlZ islargely around thecylinder in contact therewith.

As yshownin Fig. .1, -a series ofl feedingftapes 15, which pass around a pulley 16 and a guide 17 which extends into the bite of-the cylinder and the belt 14, is zprovided t0 vfacilitate Lfeedins- The cylinder k12 is rotatably -supported on lfour Yor more rollers 18, two at each end, the rollers engaging yend rings 19, as shown in Fig. '5.

As shown in Fig.2, thrust rollersj20, suitably mounted on frame 10, may be providedto maintain the cylinderin its desired axial position.

vAs shownfinvFig. 1, thepulley 21, which is disposed in front of the -cylinder 12, is mounted in swinging arms 22, thelatter being pivoted on-the shaft 23 of rthe pulley 24. Thus, the pulley 21and the spanof belt extending between pulleys 21 and 24, may be swung upwardly when itis desired to remove the cylinder 12 from the front of the machine.

within the cylinder 12 and which is somewhat longer than the same so that it projects from both ends. The lamp supporting assembly includes end plates 31, at each end, which are connected by a track 32 which, as shown in Fig. 6, is a channel shaped elongate member suitably supported at its ends by the end plates. The lamp supporting assembly also includes collars 33 which are suitably secured to and carried by the end plates 31. It will be observed in Fig. 4 that the collars are of somewhat smaller diameter than the cylinder 12; they extend into the ends of the cylinder for a short distance, but the major portion of each collar extends outwardly beyond the ends of the cylinder. Due to the overlap of the collars and the cylinder, the collars 33 provide a convenient means by which the cylinder may be lifted or manipulated. To this end, handles 34 are secured to the collars as shown in Fig. 5. It will be observed that the overlap is substantially coextensive with the width of the rings 19, and that the rings are flanged so that they will be contacted directly by the collars; thus, the lifting force o is applied by the collars directly to the rings to minimize the possibility of breaking or chipping the glass cylinder.

The lamp is supported from the track 32 by means of hangers 35 shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Each hanger includes a roller 36 which rides within the flange of the track 32. Thus, when the cylinder assembly has been removed, the lamp tube 25 may be slid olf the track, from either end of the cylinder.

Latches shown in Figs. 2 and 8, are provided at either end of the track to maintain the hangers, and hence the tube in lixed axial position. Each latch member is pivoted on the track, and serves to block movement of the hanger. If one latch is lifted, the tube can be removed from that end of the track.

Flexible insulated conductors are provided at either end of the tube, the end of each conductor being detachably connected to the tube terminal in order that the tube may be detachably connected into the electrical circuit after all the parts are in their operative position.

Means are provided to support the lamp supporting assembly 30 independently of the cylinder supporting means or rollers 1S. As shown in Fig. 2, upper and lower supporting rods 40 are cantilevered outwardly from a suitable frame member 10. Movable header boxes 41, one at each end of the cylinder assembly 29, are slidably supported on the supporting rods 40 by means of lugs 42. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is one lug 42 at the top of the header box 41 which slides on the upper supporting rod 40, and there is one lug 42 at the bottom of the header box 41 which slides on the lower supporting rod 40. The upper supporting rod 4i) is provided with anotch 43 to prevent the header box from inadvertently slipping off from its supporting rods. Thus, the header box may be moved away from the solid line position shown in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position, and vice-versa.

The header box is an enclosure which includes a rear wall plate 44 having two locating pins 45 which project into suitable registering openings 45a formed in the end plates 31 (see Fig. 5). An operating rod 46 is disposed within the headerbox 41 and is provided at its outer end with a handle 47 and at its inner end with a screw threaded portion 48. The screw threaded portion extends through a suitable aperture formed in the rear wall plate 44, and through an opening 48a formed in the end plate 31, and takes into a threaded aperture which is formed in a nut plate 49 which is welded to the inner surface of the end plate 31. A shoulder portion 50 on the operating rod bears against the rear wall plate 44 and serves to draw the rear wall plate, and hence the header box up against the end plate 31, when the operating rod 46 is tightened up. In this position of the parts, the header box is thus supported from the supporting rods 40, and in turn supports the lamp supporting assembly 30 so that the latter is free and clear of the cylinder as it revolves.

The forward end of the operating rod 46 may be extended and formed of reduced diameter to assist in locating the parts. The header box 41 is provided with a door 51 which may be swung open to provide access to the operating rod 46.

By virtue of the construction heretofore described, the lamp supporting assembly is removably mounted between and supported by two identical header boxes 41, one at each end of the removable cylinder assembly 29. The parts are so arranged that when the operating rods 46 are tightened up, the outer edges of the collars 33 abut up against the rear wall plate 44 of the header box to form a reasonably tight abutting joint. The rear wall plate may thus be provided with one or more openings so that air supplied to the header box may be directed from the header box into the cylinder by means of the collars 33. In other words, the collars 33 serve as ducts for air supplied to or withdrawn from the interior of the cylinder 12.

Where the cylinder is of substantial length, as in the embodiment sho-wn, it is desirable to supply air to the cylinder from both ends, and to withdraw the air, by suitable suction means from both ends of the cylinder. Thus, in the embodiment shown, each header box serves both as a supply means and as an exhaust means for the cooling air.

As best shown in Fig. 3, two flexible conduits 52 and 53 extend to and are secured to the rear wall of each header box 41. The conduit 52 is a supply conduit and the conductor 53 is an exhaust conduit. Partition means 54 are provided in the header box 41 to separate the supply stream from the exhaust stream. As best shown in Fig. 4, this supply means is in the form of a wholly enclosed box or duct which serves as a communicating elbow between the supply conduit 52 and a supply opening 55 formed in the rear wall plate 44. The rear wall plate has a second opening, an exhaust opening S6, shown in Fig. 3, which provides communication between the duct means provided by collar 33 and the interior of the header box 41 generally, and hence with the exhaust conduit 53 which also communicates with the interior of the header box 41.

A cylinder supply duct 57 which, as shown in Figs. `2 and 5, is suitably secured, as by welding, to the end plates 31 and the collars 33, extends continuously through the cylinder l2 from one end to the other. Thus, the cylinder supply duct forms a part of the lamp supporting assembly 30 and serves to impart strength and rigidity thereto. The cylinder supply duct may be formed with two series of spaced openings 58 and 59 in order that the air supplied by the duct may be properly distributed along the entire length of the cylinder 12.

In operation, air is supplied under the positive pressure provided by the usual type blower, and at a fairly high rate of delivery, through the supply conduit 52 and the cylinder supply duct 57 to the interior of the cylinder. This air is exhausted by means of a suitable blower or exhaust fan which communicates with the interior of the cylinder by means of exhaust conduit 53, header box 41, and the short length of exhaust duct which is provided by collar 33. Thus, complete circulation through each half of the cylinder is provided by the substantially identical header box arrangement which is provided at each end of the cylinder. f

Separate end housings 60, which are hingedly mounte on the main housing 11 at 61, may be provided to cover the otherwise exposed end portions of the removablel cylinder assembly 29. These end housings may be swung upwardly and out of the way when it is desired to remove the removable cylinder assembly 29, thus exposing the swinging arms 22 which may also be swung upwardly and out of the way. The two end housings 60 may be'connected to each other by a Vreceiving tray 62 and by a shield Iof one` of the header boxes. f arrangement permits removal 4or replacement of the lamp `either fromithe side of ytheimachine or from the front of 63.asshown in Figs. 1 and 4, thus affording aconvenient means .for supporting the receiving tray insuch amanner that it maybe swung out of the way whenthe eylillfdervisto be removed.

The main housing 11 mayhaveremovable panels r64 whichafford access to-the header boxes `41.

To summarize the operation, which has been heretofore described in ,detailin-connection with the description of the various parts and subassemblies,1the cylinder assembly .29 includes two independently supporting parts: `the cylinder 112 which lis independently supported von Vthe rollers 118 vso that it may be rotated by the belt 14, `and Ythe lamp supporting assembly30 which is detachably sup- `portedby the two header boxes ,41. i

Whenit is desired to remove the cylinder assembly, the en dhousings 60 will first swing upwardly, then the yswinging. arms 52 and thepulley Y21 are swungupwardly, Vthere- .by exposing the. handles 34.

.The side panels-64vare then removedexposing the `two ,header boxes 41. Thedoor 51 of each @header box is then opened. Then the operating rods 4.6 are unscrewed ,andremoved Thus, each header box maybe shifted outwardlyonits supporting rods to the end thatthelocating npins Y45 .are ,disengaged from the vend plates 31. The .iiexible vconductors 38 are then disconnectedfromthe lamp terminals. At this point, the removable cylinder Vassembly 29 is entirely free fromvany,mechanicalconnection with the remainder of the machine.

The upward movement. of the belt ,pulley 21 releases .thebelttension and :permits the cylinderto be-moved fforwardly onto the feeding table v65. In kthis position, 4it .can be twisted aroundso that thelarnp ZScan bewithdrawnfrom the cylinder eventhoughthe machine is provided' with very little side clearance. All that isy necessary in thisconnection is that one of the latches 37,be swung upwardly, thereby unblocking the track 32 ,so .that the -lamp25l may berolled out on itsfhangers 3S.

Similarly, the removable cylinder-assembly `29 maybe -replacedby reversingthe above operations.

In those instances where suicientside clearance is provided, it willbe observedfrom Fig. 3, that the lamp 25 may be slidably.removed from the track 32 merely by removing one of'the side panels 64 and opening the door In other words,the present the machine, vwhere side removal is not possible due to lack ,0f side clearance. However, even ,when side clearance is available, the present construction facilitatesfremoval of `the cylinder whenit is desired-to clean the cylinder, or

ywhenit is desired to have access to other parts of the -machine for ypurpose of service or repair.

.In thisV latter connection, one of the handles-34 maybe detachably connectedvto its collar 33 so that the lamp asupportingassembly..can be withdrawn'from the cylinder .'so'that the interior surface of the cylinder is accessible 'for cleaning.

Although only a preferred embodiment of my invention :hasbeen shown and. described herein, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made .inthe construction shown without departing from the scope of my invention as pointed out in the appended VVclaims.

mountingsaid supporting plates on said 'frame for transversedisplacement awayjfrom the ends of said lamp supportingassembly whereby said lamp supporting assembly ,may be completely disengaged from said supporting plates topermit removal of said cylinder assembly.

2. A photographic printing machine comprising a fr arne, a cylinder assembly removably mounted in said vkframe and comprising a rotatable transparent printing cylinder and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within ,said cylinder andprojecting beyond both ends thereof, Tmeans for supporting said cylinder and said lamp .sup- 1porting'assembly ,independently of each other comprising Atwo pairs of rollers mountedon said frame, each pair engaging an end portion of said cylinder, and a pair Vof itransversely displaceable supporting plates mounted on said frame and detachably engaging said lamp supporting assembly, two pairs of horizontally disposed supporting Vrods mounted on said frame, said supporting platesgeach being mounted on one of said pairs of supporting rods Qfor y,transverse displacement away vfrom said lamp lsupporting assembly whereby saidlampsupporting assembly ,may be completely disengaged fromsaid supporting plates to p ermitrernoval of said cylinder assembly.

'3. A photographic printing machine comprising a frame, a cylinder assembly removably mounted in said Ikframe and comprising a rotatable transparent printing ncylinder and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder and projecting beyond both ends thereof and ,including endplates, means for supporting said cylinder and said lamp supporting assembly independently of each other comprising two Vpairs of rollers mounted on said frame, each pair engaging an end portion of said cylinder,

Mand apair of transversely displaceable supporting plates umounted on saidjframe for 'face to face engagement with said end plates, means forldetachably securing said supporting plates tn said end plates, two pairs of horizontally `disposed supporting rods mounted on said frame, said supporting plates eachbeing mounted on one of said pairs vof supporting rods fortransverse displacement away from said end plates whereby said lamp supporting assembly maybe completely disengaged'from said supporting vplates to permit removal ofsaid cylinder assembly.

4. A photographic printing machine as claimed in claim '3 in which said detachable securing means comprisesra screw passing through said supporting plate and being threaded into said end plate.

`5. In aphotographic printing machine' having an open jfrontand.means for rotatably supporting a cylinder, the

combination of a removable cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder and having end portions extending beyond -the ends thereof, and meansfor detachably engaging said end'portionsfor supporting said lamp supporting assembly independently of-said cylindertorpermit removal yof said cylinder assembly'throughsaid open front, said end portions including collars disposed partly within yandy partly lwithout said'cylinder andadapted to engage the interior of said cylinder so that saidv lamp supporting assembly will be supported by said cylinder after disengagement of `said detachable engaging means.

6. In ay photographic printing machine having a frame providing an open front and means for rotatably supp porting a, cylinder, the combination of a removable cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder, and a lamp` supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder and having end portions extending beyond Athe ends of said cylinder,

means for detachably engaging said end portions for supporting said lamp supporting assembly independently of said cylinder, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said frame above said cylinder and extending forwardly and downwardly over the upper front portion of said cylinder, a belt for said cylinder, and a plurality of rollers defining a path for said belt, one of said rollers being carried by said pivotally mounted arms whereby that portion of said belt span which is disposed in front of said cylinder may be swung upwardly to permit removal of said cylinder assembly through said open front, said end portions including collars disposed partly within and partly without said cylinder and adapted to engage the interior of said cylinder so that said lamp supporting assembly will be supported by said cylinder after disengagement of said detachable engaging means.

7. In a photographic printing machine having an open front and means for rotatably supporting a cylinder, the combination of a removable cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder, and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder and having portions extending beyond the ends thereof, means for detachably engaging said end portions for supporting said lamp supporting assembly independently of said cylinder, said lamp supporting assembly including a longitudinally extending track member, and a lamp slidably supported on said track member whereby said lamp may be removed from said lamp supporting assembly by an axially sliding movement after said cylinder assembly has been removed from the open front of said machine, said end portions including collars disposed partly within and partly without said cylinder and serving to space said track member and said lamp from contact with the interior of said cylinder after disengagement of said detachable engaging means from said lamp supporting assembly.

8. In a photographic printing machine having an open front and means for rotatably supporting a cylinder, the combination of a removable cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder, and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinderand having end portions extending beyond the ends of said cylinder, means for detachably engaging said end portions for supporting said lamp supporting assembly independently of said cylinder, said lamp supporting assembly including a longitudinally extending track member, a plurality of hangers slidably mounted on said track, and a lamp supported by said hangers whereby said lamp may be removed from said lamp supporting assembly by an axially sliding movement after said cylinder assembly has been removed from the open front of said machine, said end portions including collars disposed partly within and partly without said cylinder and serving to space said track member and said lamp from contact with the interior of said cylinder after disengagement of said detachable engaging means from said lamp supporting assembly.

9. In a photographic printing machine of the revolving cylinder type, a frame, a pair of header boxes supported by said frame, a removable cylinder assembly disposed between said header boxes, said cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a lamp supporting assembly disposed Within said cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said cylinder independently of said lamp supporting assembly, said lamp supporting assembly being supported by said header boxes, and means for detachably connecting said header boxes to said lamp supporting assembly for supporting the latter during operation of the machine.

10. ln a photographic printing machine of the revolving cylinder type, a frame, al pair of header boxes supported by said frame, a removable cylinder assembly disposed between said header boxes, said cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder, means for rotatably supporting said cylinder independently of said lamp supporting assembly, vsaid lamp supporting assembly being supported by said header boxes, clamping means for effecting supporting engagement between said header boxes and said lamp supporting assembly, a duct carried by said lamp supporting assembly, the ends of said duct abutting the inner walls of said header boxes, said inner Walls being provided with inlet openings registering with said duct, partition means disposed within said header boxes to provide communication between a source of air pressure and said duct whereby air is supplied to both ends of said duct, openings in said duct whereby air may flow out of said duct and into the interior of said cylinder, exhaust openings in said inner walls providing communication between the interior of said cylinder and the interiors of said header boxes, means carried by said frame for supporting said header boxes for axial displacement away from said lamp supporting assembly, a first set of flexible conduits extending from each of said partition means to said source of air pressure, and a second set of flexible conduits attached to said header boxes to provide communication between the interior ot' said header boxes and a source of suction whereby air supplied to the interior of said cylinder through said partition means and said duct may be exhausted through said header boxes.

ll. A photographic printing machine as claimed in claim 10 in which said lamp supporting assembly includes end collars abutting said header boxes and extending into the ends of said cylinder to provide duct means between said cylinder and said header box.

l2. A removable cylinder assembly for a photographic printing machine comprising a transparent printing cylindcr and a structurally independent lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder and projecting beyond the ends thereof, said lamp supporting assembly including two end plates, means connecting said end plates, and a collar at each end of said connecting means and disposed partly Within and partly without said cylinder whereby said cylinder assembly may be lifted by said collars.

13. A removable cylinder assembly for a photographic printing machine comprising a transparent printing cylinder and a lamp supporting assembly disposed within said cylinder and projecting beyond the ends thereof, said lamp supporting assembly including two end plates, means connecting said end plates to provide a rigid structural assembly, said means including a track member for supporting a lamp and a duct, and a collar at each end of said lamp supporting assembly and disposed partly within and partly without said cylinder Whereby said cylinder assembly may be lifted by said collars.

14. A removable cylinder assembly as claimed in claim 13 in which said collars are mounted on said duct.

l5. A removable cylinder assembly as claimed in claim 13 in which said collars are each provided with a handle.

16. A removable cylinder assembly as claimed in claim 13 including hanger means slidably mounted on said track member for removably supporting a lamp.

17. A removable cylinder assembly as claimed in claim i6 in which said track member is provided with a pivotally mounted latch member at each end thereof to block movement of said hanger means.

18. A removable cylinder assembly as claimed in claim i3 in which said track member is a channel member, in combination with a hanger having a'roller disposed within said channel whereby a lamp supported by said hanger may be removed from said cylinder assembly by sliding movement in an axial direction.

No references cited. 

